Storage

When you buy essential oils they come in a nice small, tightly sealed, dark glass bottle. This is important to think about with the following key guidelines for storage –

• Keep in a cool, dark and dry place away from direct sunlight
• Keep in a dark glass bottle – brown/amber is the best colour and dark blue is also fine
• Ensure bottles are tightly stoppered
• Always replace caps/tops and put the correct caps onto the correct bottles
• Keep bottles out of reach of children and animals

Tips –

Good places to store them are in a wooden box, cupboard, drawers of a dressing table, bedside table, or bathroom cabinet.

I keep mine in special boxes or travel wallets on my bookcase, desk or cupboard away from direct sunlight.

Blending & Diluting

Always dilute essential oils in a carrier solution (vegetable/carrier oils, milk, salt or vodka for example). Please do not apply to the skin direct.

Recommended dilution quantities –

• 1% essential oil dilution = 1 drop per 5ml or 2 drops per 10ml etc (recommended for elderly, frail, children under 4 y.o. and during pregnancy)
• 2% essential oil dilution = 2 drops per 5ml or 4 drops per 10ml etc (normal fit, strong, healthy, well individuals)
• 3% essential oil dilution = 3 drops per 5ml or 6 drops per 10ml etc (for local area application only i.e. application to a specific part / small area of the body only)

Essential oils can also damage work surfaces, wooden tables, furniture and clothing

• Cover surfaces with a cloth or kitchen roll to avoid ruining any surfaces as a result of spillage.
• Use a tray when blending solutions
• I would advise that you always use an apron and rubber gloves to avoid direct contact with the skin and any possible damage to clothing.

Shelf Life – this varies

A mix that you have blended consisting of essential oils and carrier solution will last for as long as the carrier solution will last – usually 4-6 months

• Please note that water does not last very long (a few days).
• If you are using water for body sprays, you can add some alcohol (e.g. vodka) which extends the shelf life significantly i.e. for up to 2-3 years.
• Perfume blends using 100% alcohol based solution diluted with oils will last several years.
• If you are using a water based solution, please shake each time before using. Essential oils are not soluble in water.
• Label your blends immediately – it’s important to remember the ingredients
• Use the more hazardous essential oils in low dilutions. (See below for some examples)

Key Cautions

• High blood pressure – avoid rosemary, hyssop, and thyme
• Epilepsy – avoid rosemary, fennel, sage, hyssop
• Sensitivities and allergies – hayfever, asthma. Err on the side of caution – recommend 1% dilution only to start with (please see below for details)
• Pregnancy – please seek advice because there are many oils contraindicated for pregnancy. 1% dilution is recommended only (please see below for details)
• Elderly, Frail and very young children – under 4 years old – 1% dilution only (please see below for details)
• Phototoxicity / Photosensitivity – oils that that contain furocoumarins – chemicals that make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Sunburn will occur if exposed to sunlight. This group is largely restricted to citrus oils – Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, Orange, Mandarin, and Tangerine. Grapefruit is a citrus oil that is “not” phototoxic and therefore not included in this list.

NB – You can buy Bergamot FCF which is not phototoxic because it has had the chemical removed that makes Bergamot phototoxic – Bergaptene.

Irritation

Irritation is usually damage to the skin, redness and/or a burning sensation followed by inflammation as a result of using essential oils. This will arise very quickly and the severity will vary greatly.

• In the event that irritation does occur, immediately apply vegetable oil to the affected area and remove with a cloth or paper towel (clean ones). Repeat 3-6 times.
• The oils most likely to cause irritation are oils like Lemongrass, Dwarf Pine, Origanum, Red Thyme (contain carvacol and thymol), Cinnamon, Citrus & Pine oils. These oil contain high levels of phenols and Aldehydes.
• Always dilute essential oils including when using them in a bath – milk, alcohol, carrier oil or bath salts are best.

Patch Test

Prepare a dilution of one drop of essential oil in a teaspoon of carrier/vegetable oil, apply to inner forearm, and cover with a waterproof plaster for 24-48 hours. If there is not reaction, then you should be fine to use the oil following the safety advice. For a more precise answer though, repeat twice more. If sensitisation occurs, discontinue immediately, avoid use in the future.

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